OS compatability for E60

[Stuart_32]

I know these OS are not supported but has anyone successfully migrated to W2K or WinXP on an E60? Is there some inherent reason why this machine would NOT be able to run these systems?

[Mark Young_2]

Hi,

Windows 2000 Server and advanced Server as well as Small Business Server ARE SUPPORTED on the E60.

Windows XP is not, and I'm not sure what your success would be with that. It would probably work, but will likely cause issues of one sort or another.

Hope this helps,

Mark

[Stuart_32]

What about plain old Windows 2000? I want to turn the server into a regular PC. I was thinking WinXP would be better and then I could play games on it too.

[Mark Young_2]

Well, you shouldn't have any problems. Generally if the server will support 2000 Server, it will certainly support 2000. There should be no problems.

As for XP, I'm sure as I said, that you can get it to install, and you may have no problems. Currently HP has only tested it for use on the Netserver tc3100 and tc4100. I don't think they plan to test it on any previous servers. Good luck. I think I have seen posts were people have had it install successfully on other non-supported servers, so hopefully they will step in with some advice for you.

As for playing games, I haven't heard of anyone getting a sound card to work on a Netserver, not to say that it won't. Good luck! I hope it all works out for you.

[Stuart_32]

I actually did install a Sound card (ISA slot, Sound blaster 16 model CT2940)pulled from an old machine and it works with no problems. Also added a USB/Firewire combo card and that also runs OK on the E60. Well, I haven't actually tested the Firewire functionality but it says its working OK. USB ports do work fine though as they drove a disk-on-key. Now my next step is to upgrade the OS. No one has commented on the suitability of running WIN XP on this platform. I know its not supported but I think I might try it anyway and keep the old WIN2K Server OS on a separate drive so I can reinstall it if XP blows its mind. Final step will be to upgrade the video card keeping it to 1X or 2X AGP.

[haulinash]

I kept having a few unidentifiable bugs during install of xp pro, but finally got it working with no problems at all... at first. Then one morning, all kinds of read errors and can't find problems... don't have automatic updates running- I think sp2 is what gave me the most of my problems. I've yet to go back and remove sp2, but I'll post any specific issues that caused it to flip out on me.

Eric.

[Stuart_32]

I successfully installed WinXP Home about one year ago and had no problems with the installation and have had no problems over the last year. As I mentioned above I have also been running a sound card in the E60 with no problems. Works fine with iTunes and Quicktime, etc... The one thing I haven't been able to do is upgrade the video card. I tried putting a compatible improvement card in but it wouldn't work so I switched back to the original one. Without being able to upgrade the video card I won't be able to play games on this unit.

[haulinash]

I've been having the same problem. I was trying to put in a 32mb pci card and same result as you. No dice. I just now remember reading somewhere- not too sure where- but I know that the slots share settings with the drives.
oh. wait- reference card has note about it.

IRQ Sharing:

SCSI(A&B)-----PCI 3
Emb NIC-------PCI 4
PCI 1---------PCI 5
PCI 2---------PCI 6

might be a conflict there, or the default boot order in bios might be corrupting something in POST... If i figure it out, i'll pass on the info.

Eric.

[Stuart_32]

I should have clarified, yes I was trying to install a second PCI video card into the E60 with the hope that I could run two monitors but it wouldn't recognize the second PCI video card. I tried it in every available PCI slot to avoid conflicts but no dice. Anyone know of a compatible vid card I could upgrade with into the AGP slot that would allow better graphics capability for gaming?